NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cubs Get Sweep, Marlins Get Swept

For the first time this season, the Chicago Cubs swept a series. For the first time ever, the Florida Marlins were swept.

The Cubs reached .500 for the 17th time this year Wednesday by beating the Marlins, 6-4, at Wrigley Field. Florida became a sweep victim in its 22nd series.

“This wasn’t just a three-game sweep for us,” Cub Manager Jim Lefebvre said. “It was kind of like getting rid of a jinx on our side.

“We let the third game of the Los Angeles series (May 12) and the third game of the Pittsburgh series (May 16) slip away from us. So, we’ve had the opportunities. Now, it’s imperative we get over the .500 mark and stay there.”

Ryne Sandberg drove in three runs and reliever Jim Bullinger (1-0) won for the first time since last Aug. 30.

Sandberg’s sixth-inning double off Luis Aquino (4-4) broke a 2-2 deadlock and drove in Jose Vizcaino, who also scored on Sandberg’s single in the fourth. Sandberg added an RBI groundout in the seventh, making the score, 6-3.

Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 21st save.

San Francisco 6, Cincinnati 5--Barry Bonds hit a two-out, game-tying home run in the ninth inning off Rob Dibble, and Will Clark singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th at Cincinnati.

The Giants hit four solo homers, including Bonds’ game-tying homer off Dibble, who has blown saves in his last two appearances. The other three homers came off starter Jose Rijo--two by Dave Martinez and one by Matt Williams, who remains tied with Bonds for the National League lead with 19.

Clark and Williams had two-out, run-scoring singles off Bobby Ayala (1-3) in the 10th to give the Giants their seventh victory in nine games. Rod Beck pitched the 10th and gave up one run, but earned his 20th save.

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 2--Joe Magrane, who was in jeopardy of losing his starting job 11 days ago, went six strong innings as the Cardinals beat the slumping Pirates at St. Louis.

Magrane is 3-0 and has given up two runs in 20 2/3 innings since being told to pitch better or risk being demoted. In two starts before his winning streak, Magrane (5-6) gave up 10 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.

Lee Smith, the fourth St. Louis pitcher, worked the ninth for his 20th save. Smith has 20 or more saves in 11 consecutive seasons, a major league record.

Pittsburgh has lost 10 of 11 and concluded an 0-7 trip, their first winless trip since Aug. 8-15, 1985.

Atlanta 5, New York 2--Jeff Blauser hit a two-run homer and Greg Maddux (6-5) pitched a three-hitter at Atlanta as the Braves handed the Mets their 11th loss in 13 games.

Blauser’s fifth homer of the season came against Pete Schourek (2-9) after Otis Nixon opened the game with a walk. It was Nixon’s first start since June 3.

Montreal 4, Philadelphia 3--Mike Lansing drove home the winning run at Montreal with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.

Mel Rojas (2-5), who gave up Len Dykstra’s game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth, earned the victory with three innings of relief.

Houston 5, San Diego 4--Mark Portugal homered and won his fourth consecutive game as the Astros ended a five-game losing streak.

Portugal (5-2) went 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits at Houston. He struck out four and walked two.